Adani Group expands Swabhimaan Programme targeting 10 lakh women entrepreneurs

Adani Group, through the Adani Foundation and led by Dr. Priti Adani, expanded its Swabhimaan Programme with the aim of empowering 10 lakh women entrepreneurs across India via skill development, financial literacy and livelihood support. The large-scale social initiative strengthens the corporate "Social" pillar and sets a benchmark for impact-driven ESG programmes by Indian companies.

Adani Group expanded its Swabhimaan Programme, led by Dr. Priti Adani, with the stated aim of empowering 10 lakh women entrepreneurs across India. The initiative, executed primarily by the Adani Foundation in collaboration with local communities, self-help groups and regional stakeholders, initially focused on skill development, financial literacy and access to sustainable livelihood opportunities. The expansion broadens its geographic and demographic reach through a structured, phased approach to onboarding, training and long-term beneficiary sustainability, integrating capacity building with enterprise development to help women transition from informal work into structured economic activities.

The programme directly targets women entrepreneurs, particularly in rural and semi-urban regions, providing access to markets, credit linkages and mentorship to strengthen women-led enterprise value chains. By enhancing financial independence, it contributes to local economic resilience. From a corporate standpoint, it affects how large Indian companies structure social-impact programmes, demonstrating integration of social responsibility into core business strategy. It aligns with national priorities including financial inclusion, rural development and gender equality, reinforcing private-sector participation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening the "Social" pillar of ESG.

The timeline for scaling to 10 lakh women entrepreneurs signals a long-term commitment rather than a short-term intervention, with the design emphasising measurable outcomes including income generation, enterprise sustainability and community-level economic upliftment. Companies pursuing similar programmes should monitor accountability and transparency mechanisms and structured implementation models that maintain scalability. For businesses, such programmes can strengthen stakeholder trust, improve ESG ratings and align with global sustainability frameworks, while reinforcing the role of corporate-led social innovation in driving inclusive growth.

Key figure — Target beneficiaries: 10 lakh women entrepreneurs across India